Between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon, the Highway Hotline website and mobile apps received 2.49 million visits from motorists interested in driving conditions in the province. (Image Credit: File photo/Ministry of Highways)

By Teena Monteleone

Treacherous Travel

‘Don’t leave your house if you don’t have to’: Saskatchewan drivers encouraged to avoid highways

Feb 18, 2026 | 2:53 PM

Saskatchewan RCMP, the Ministry of Highways, SGI and Environment Canada are all urging drivers in the province to stay home.

During a combined press conference Wednesday afternoon, Dan Palmer from the Ministry of Highways said in 36 hours, the Highway Hotline website and mobile apps received 2.49 million visits.

“It might make more sense to stay home and watch the Winter Olympics and cheer on Team Canada,” Palmer said.

The snowfall has been a challenge for crews clearing highways, as some areas saw more than 20 centimetres of accumulation overnight. As of 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, several highways throughout the province were listed as ‘Travel Not Recommended.’

“Part [of the problem] is the snow buildup from falling snow and wind causing heavy snow drifts that become hard-packed snow. So, our teammates on the road have to slow down and stay in control to plow the snow and sometimes that takes longer,” Palmer said.

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Conditions around 11 a.m. Wednesday on Hwy 11 by MacDowall. (Image Credit: Saskatchewan Highway Updates/Facebook)

Saskatchewan RCMP Inspector Lee Knelsen said officers have responded to 65 traffic-related incidents since the winter storm started Tuesday night.

“Those would be stranded motorists, motor vehicle collisions. We have not seen any fatal or serious collisions at this time, which is positive,” Knelsen said.

He added the RCMP have sufficient resources to respond to calls for service, whether they are related to traffic or any other incident.

“There is no effect or issues in regards to response times.”

But Knelsen also reiterated the message not to travel unless you have to and, if you do, slow down.

“The speed limit is the speed limit, but not when we see such poor conditions out there as well.”

Environment and Climate Change Canada suggested delaying travel if possible, even for 24 hours, as conditions are expected to improve.

“We are still seeing heavy snowfall over the south and northern Saskatchewan with reduced visibility, and we’re expecting significant snowfall but that will taper off slowly from the southwest to northeast through to tomorrow,” said ECCC warning preparedness meteorologist Danielle Desjardins.

While the snow may subside, the weather agency said behind the current low pressure system, there is a ridge of high pressure ushering in cold arctic air to the province.

“We’re expecting temperatures to be well below normal for the rest of the month, but especially over the next four or five days,” Desjardins said. “Daytime highs will be in the minus teens or -20 C and overnight lows will push -30 C. Although we aren’t expecting strong winds under the ridge, even a wind of five to 10 kilometres can push windchills to below -40.”

In the meantime, a spokesperson from SGI said if people must travel, they must also adjust driving behaviours to accommodate what we’re seeing outside. That includes increasing a following distance to at least six seconds.

“Don’t leave your house if you don’t have to,” said SGI manager of media relations Heather Hubic, adding she expects to see an increase in driver claims related to the storm.

She said 27 per cent of all collisions in the winter months are due to poor conditions.

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com